Commissioners support 'paper trail' for electronic voting system

By JOHN MARTIN Evansville Courier & Press September 28, 2004

Vanderburgh County Commissioners on Monday voiced support for a state law requiring that computerized voting systems have a mandatory "paper trail."

The Nov. 2 election will be Vanderburgh's second one with a new touchscreen voting system manufactured by Election Systems & Software. No problems were reported in the May primary, but some people say they still worry about hacking and accidental malfunctions.

They say computerized systems should offer printed proof of each individual ballot cast.

Three states have passed laws requiring computerized voting systems to have such a mechanism, and similar legislation has been introduced in Congress. Ten people came to Monday's County Commissioners meeting asking that a resolution be passed supporting such a law for Indiana.

The resolution passed, 3-0.

"What's at stake is the accuracy, reliability and indeed the very integrity of our election process," Vanderburgh County resident Tammy Barnett said.

Congress, mindful of the disputed 2000 election in Florida, has required local communities to get rid of punch cards and other antiquated voting systems.

In some areas of the United States, however, voting by computer has triggered controversy.

Barnett and other speakers told County Commissioners about several reported instances of foul-ups in electronic voting across the nation, including cases in which computers erased large numbers of votes.

Vanderburgh County's iVotronic machines and its software are newly certified according to federal standards. An independent laboratory tested the equipment's security and reliability. County resident Jennifer Kennedy told County Commissioners on Monday that to her, certification "is not much of a reassurance."

Tim Slack agreed. "The hackers are always one step ahead of people who are trying to catch them," he said.

Kennedy likened voting without proof of each ballot to "making a deposit in an ATM machine without getting a receipt." State Rep. Dennis Avery, D-Evansville, said he would support legislation requiring a paper trail and noted the passionate statements by residents about the issue.

"What I'm afraid of is the public will not have any confidence in the (election) outcome, and with good reason," Avery said.

County Clerk Marsha Abell said last week during a county Election Board meeting that Election Systems & Software is developing a "paper trail" system for its touchscreen voting equipment, but it could not be used until it is certified.

It's unclear how much it would cost county government to hook up each voting machine to a printer.

Avery said that if no printing device can be used for the Nov. 2 election, "we'll have to hope for the best" and focus on putting it in place for future elections.